What is Agile Testing?
First, let’s start with the agile approach in software development: it’s a method of developing software iteratively, the goal of which is to deliver working software frequently and reliably. This approach has become very popular over the last decade because it allows teams to respond quickly to changing requirements.
However, the agile methodology is not only for programmers but also for testers. It helps them to work together in an effective manner. Testers are able to give valuable input on what they think about the product being developed and their ideas and suggestions help to make sure that the final product meets all expectations.
Agile testing is a way of testing software using short iterations. In each iteration, quality assurance specialists work closely with the developers to test new features or changes to existing code. They also provide feedback to developers who then incorporate their suggestions into the next version of the software.
How Can I Apply Agile Testing?
In order to successfully implement agile testing, you must first have a good understanding of your organization’s current processes. You may already have some sort of test management tool which helps you track defects and assign them to testers. If not, you may want to consider investing in one.
The agile manifesto says that “software should be built by people for people”. It means that we need to work with the end-users in order to create useful software. We also need to involve them throughout the entire process of building the product.
The agile tester will take part in all stages of the project. During the planning stage, they will help the team understand what needs to be tested and how. Then, during the implementation phase, they will review the progress and suggest improvements to the design. Finally, when the software is released, they will use it as an end-user and report any bugs found.
The agile testing process is based on three principles:
- Test early and often.
- Collaborate with other team members.
- Deliver value as soon as possible.
Agile Testing vs. Waterfall Testing
Waterfall testing is a traditional approach to software development where the whole system is designed before any coding begins. This type of testing is done at the end of the project. When the tests are completed, the results are reviewed and the developer makes any necessary adjustments. Once everything is ready, the software is deployed to production.
This approach can cause problems because the final product isn’t always what was originally intended. For example, if the customer doesn’t like the colors used in the website, the developer might decide to make changes without considering whether these changes would affect the usability of the site.
On the other hand, agile testing involves iterative testing. The whole system is developed incrementally. Each time the team completes a task, they discuss their findings with the rest of the team. As they learn more about the requirements, they adjust the plan accordingly.
When the software is finally complete, the team reviews the results and makes any necessary changes. However, unlike waterfall testing, the code is never finalized. Instead, the entire system is continually being updated until the client approves it.
Agile Testing Methods
As you might expect, there are various methods used to implement agile testing. Some of these are listed below.
Test-Driven Development
This method focuses on writing tests first. Once the tests pass, developers create the actual code. This approach emphasizes writing test cases before coding.
One benefit of this method is that it encourages developers to design their code properly and think about its possible errors, inputs, and outputs. Another advantage is that it makes sure that the tests cover all of the features of the product.
This method is commonly used for unit testing. However, some testers apply it to more complex types, such as UI testing.
Behavioral Driven Development
This method focuses less on writing tests and more on observing users. It’s designed to help developers understand how users interact with the system.
This method is similar to TDD. The major difference is that it focuses on behavior rather than structure.
One benefit of this method is that it allows testers to test the entire application at once. This saves time because it eliminates the need to run multiple instances of the app.
Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD)
This method combines both acceptance and test-driven development. It uses the same basic concepts but applies them differently. The main difference between ATDD and TDD is that ATDD focuses on acceptance criteria instead of functional requirements.
Exploratory Testing
Exploratory testing is similar to user acceptance testing. However, exploratory testing involves more than just observing users. You may want to explore how the program behaves under certain conditions. For example, you might want to see if it crashes when the database connection times out.
The benefits of exploratory testing include learning about the application’s behavior and discovering problems before they occur.
You can use exploratory testing to find any issues with the application. You don’t need to know what the issue is in order to do this type of testing.
Session-Based Testing
A session-based test consists of several sessions where the tester interacts with the system. Each session includes different tasks. These tasks help determine whether the system is working as expected, and whether it’s usable and reliable.
Agile Testing Life Cycle
The agile testing life cycle consists of three phases: planning, execution, and monitoring. Agile testers work in teams during the execution phase. During this phase, they perform various activities such as gathering information from customers, creating test cases, executing tests, analyzing results, documenting findings, and releasing the product.
Planning Phase
During the planning phase, the team creates a detailed plan for the testing. This plan should include the following details:
- A list of the functional areas that will be tested.
- An estimate of the time required to complete each task.
- An estimate of the number of test cases needed for each area.
Execution Phase
In the execution phase, the team executes the plan. The team members execute the test cases using their skills and experience. They may also use tools such as automated regression suites or load generators.
Monitoring Phase
In the monitoring phase, the team analyzes the results of the testing and documents them. The team also evaluates the effectiveness of the testing and adjusts the plan accordingly.
The agile testing process is a good fit for any team that wants to be more responsive to change and deliver better quality software faster. Softvoya provides high-quality development and testing services for all types and sizes of businesses, startups and enterprises. If you’re searching for a reliable software testing partner, contact us today!
